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In this review paper we discuss the different interpretations of the concept of connection in a fiber bundle and in a jet bundle, and relate it with first and second-order systems of partial differential equations (PDE's) and multivector fields. As particular cases we analyze the concepts of linear connections and connections in a manifold., Comment: 21 pp. A new section (5) has been added. On it, new concepts, results and properties about connections in a manifold have been developed. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:dg-ga/9505004

The problem of reduction of multisymplectic manifolds by the action of Lie groups is stated and discussed, as a previous step to give a fully covariant scheme of reduction for classical field theories with symmetries., Comment: 9 pages. The definition of bracket of Hamiltonian forms has been corrected (and an acknowledgment to Prof. C. Blacker has been added in the "Acknowledgments")

A geometric approach to time-dependent optimal control problems is proposed. This formulation is based on the Skinner and Rusk formalism for Lagrangian and Hamiltonian systems. The corresponding unified formalism developed for optimal control systems allows us to formulate geometrically the necessary conditions given by Pontryagin's Maximum Principle, provided that the differentiability with respect to controls is assumed and the space of controls is open. Furthermore, our method is also valid for implicit optimal control systems and, in particular, for the so-called descriptor systems (optimal control problems including both differential and algebraic equations)., Comment: 26 pp. Replaced with the published version. Section 2 has been shortened. Minor mistakes are corrected

We consider Hamiltonian systems in first-order multisymplectic field theories. We review the properties of Hamiltonian systems in the so-called restricted multimomentum bundle, including the variational principle which leads to the Hamiltonian field equations. In an analogous way to how these systems are defined in the so-called extended (symplectic) formulation of non-autonomous mechanics, we introduce Hamiltonian systems in the extended multimomentum bundle. The geometric properties of these systems are studied, the Hamiltonian equations are analyzed using integrable multivector fields, the corresponding variational principle is also stated, and the relation between the extended and the restricted Hamiltonian systems is established. All these properties are also adapted to certain kinds of submanifolds of the multimomentum bundles in order to cover the case of almost-regular field theories., Comment: 36 pp. The introduction and the abstract have been rewritten. New references are added and some little mistakes are corrected. The title has been slightly modified

The Rusk-Skinner formalism was developed in order to give a geometrical unified formalism for describing mechanical systems. It incorporates all the characteristics of Lagrangian and Hamiltonian descriptions of these systems (including dynamical equations and solutions, constraints, Legendre map, evolution operators, equivalence, etc.). In this work we extend this unified framework to first-order classical field theories, and show how this description comprises the main features of the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalisms, both for the regular and singular cases. This formulation is a first step toward further applications in optimal control theory for PDE's., Comment: LaTeX file, 23 pages. Minor changes have been made. References are updated

A general study of symmetries in optimal control theory is given, starting from the presymplectic description of this kind of system. Then, Noether's theorem, as well as the corresponding reduction procedure (based on the application of the Marsden-Weinstein theorem adapted to the presymplectic case) are stated both in the regular and singular cases, which are previously described., Comment: 24 pages. LaTeX file. The paper has been reorganized. Additional comments have been included in Section 3. The example in Section 5.2 has been revisited. Some references have been added

In this review paper we give a geometrical formulation of the field equations in the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalisms of classical field theories (of first order) in terms of multivector fields. This formulation enables us to discuss the existence and non-uniqueness of solutions, as well as their integrability., Comment: 14 pages. LaTeX file. This is a review paper based on previous works by the same authors

The ``time-evolution operator'' in mechanics is a powerful tool which can be geometrically defined as a vector field along the Legendre map. It has been extensively used by several authors for studying the structure and properties of the dynamical systems (mainly the non-regular ones), such as the relation between the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalisms, constraints, and higher-order mechanics. This paper is devoted to defining a generalization of this operator for field theories, in a covariant formulation. In order to do this, we also use sections along maps, in particular multivector fields (skew-symmetric contravariant tensor fields of order greater than 1), jet fields and connection forms along the Legendre map. As a first relevant property, we use these geometrical objects to obtain the solutions of the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian field equations, and the equivalence among them (specially for non-regular field theories)., Comment: 35 pages, LaTeX. Replaced with the edited version. The title has been changed. Minor details are corrected

We state the intrinsic form of the Hamiltonian equations of first-order Classical Field theories in three equivalent geometrical ways: using multivector fields, jet fields and connections. Thus, these equations are given in a form similar to that in which the Hamiltonian equations of mechanics are usually given. Then, using multivector fields, we study several aspects of these equations, such as the existence and non-uniqueness of solutions, and the integrability problem. In particular, these problems are analyzed for the case of Hamiltonian systems defined in a submanifold of the multimomentum bundle. Furthermore, the existence of first integrals of these Hamiltonian equations is considered, and the relation between {\sl Cartan-Noether symmetries} and {\sl general symmetries} of the system is discussed. Noether's theorem is also stated in this context, both the ``classical'' version and its generalization to include higher-order Cartan-Noether symmetries. Finally, the equivalence between the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalisms is also discussed., Comment: Some minor mistakes are corrected. Bibliography is updated. To be published in J. Phys. A: Mathematical and General

In this review the foundations of Geometric Quantization are explained and discussed. In particular, we want to clarify the mathematical aspects related to the geometrical structures involved in this theory: complex line bundles, hermitian connections, real and complex polarizations, metalinear bundles and bundles of densities and half-forms. In addition, we justify all the steps followed in the geometric quantization programme, from the standpoint definition to the structures which are successively introduced., Comment: LaTeX file, 79 pages

We study the geometrical background of the Hamiltonian formalism of first-order Classical Field Theories. In particular, different proposals of multimomentum bundles existing in the usual literature (including their canonical structures) are analyzed and compared. The corresponding Legendre maps are introduced. As a consequence, the definition of regular and almost-regular Lagrangian systems is reviewed and extended from different but equivalent ways., Comment: LaTeX file, 19 pages. Replaced with the published version. Minor mistakes are corrected

It is shown that the geometry of locally homogeneous multisymplectic manifolds (that is, smooth manifolds equipped with a closed nondegenerate form of degree > 1, which is locally homogeneous of degree k with respect to a local Euler field) is characterized by their automorphisms. Thus, locally homogeneous multisymplectic manifolds extend the family of classical geometries possessing a similar property: symplectic, volume and contact. The proof of the first result relies on the characterization of invariant differential forms with respect to the graded Lie algebra of infinitesimal automorphisms, and on the study of the local properties of Hamiltonian vector fields on locally multisymplectic manifolds. In particular it is proved that the group of multisymplectic diffeomorphisms acts (strongly locally) transitively on the manifold. It is also shown that the graded Lie algebra of infinitesimal automorphisms of a locally homogeneous multisymplectic manifold characterizes their multisymplectic diffeomorphisms., Comment: 25 p.; LaTeX file. The paper has been partially rewritten. Some terminology has been changed. The proof of some theorems and lemmas have been revised. The title and the abstract are slightly modified. An appendix is added. The bibliography is updated

The integrability of multivector fields in a differentiable manifold is studied. Then, given a jet bundle $J^1E\to E\to M$, it is shown that integrable multivector fields in $E$ are equivalent to integrable connections in the bundle $E\to M$ (that is, integrable jet fields in $J^1E$). This result is applied to the particular case of multivector fields in the manifold $J^1E$ and connections in the bundle $J^1E\to M$ (that is, jet fields in the repeated jet bundle $J^1J^1E$), in order to characterize integrable multivector fields and connections whose integral manifolds are canonical lifting of sections. These results allow us to set the Lagrangian evolution equations for first-order classical field theories in three equivalent geometrical ways (in a form similar to that in which the Lagrangian dynamical equations of non-autonomous mechanical systems are usually given). Then, using multivector fields; we discuss several aspects of these evolution equations (both for the regular and singular cases); namely: the existence and non-uniqueness of solutions, the integrability problem and Noether's theorem; giving insights into the differences between mechanics and field theories., Comment: New sections on integrability of Multivector Fields and applications to Field Theory (including some examples) are added. The title has been slightly modified. To be published in J. Math. Phys

We construct a lagrangian geometric formulation for first-order field theories using the canonical structures of first-order jet bundles, which are taken as the phase spaces of the systems in consideration. First of all, we construct all the geometric structures associated with a first-order jet bundle and, using them, we develop the lagrangian formalism, defining the canonical forms associated with a lagrangian density and the density of lagrangian energy, obtaining the {\sl Euler-Lagrange equations} in two equivalent ways: as the result of a variational problem and developing the {\sl jet field formalism} (which is a formulation more similar to the case of mechanical systems). A statement and proof of Noether's theorem is also given, using the latter formalism. Finally, some classical examples are briefly studied., Comment: Latex file, 48 pages

In the jet-bundle description of first-order classical field theories there are some elements, such as the lagrangian energy and the construction of the hamiltonian formalism, which require the prior choice of a connection. Bearing these facts in mind, we analyze the situation in the jet-bundle description of time-dependent classical mechanics. So we prove that this connection-dependence also occurs in this case, although it is usually hidden by the use of the ``natural'' connection given by the trivial bundle structure of the phase spaces in consideration. However, we also prove that this dependence is dynamically irrelevant, except where the dynamical variation of the energy is concerned. In addition, the relationship between first integrals and connections is shown for a large enough class of lagrangians., Comment: 17 pages, Latex file